Casket



March 15, 1938. c. T. SHERMAN CASKET Filed April 9, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet l I'll I nventm' Charles 'T'L.

March 15, 1938. c. T. Sl-1ERMAN CASKET Filed April 9, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 1, 1938. c. T. SHERMAN CASKET Filed April 9, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 mm m hm m 1 mm Q .Q m\ ow w Nb W 9% I N Mn M m bR (Charles T.

Attomey Patented Mar. 15, 1938 iJNlT TAT ES PATENT OFFICE a iiig'ssi bAsKE'r Charles T. Sherman, Houston, Tex.

Application April .9, 1935, Serial No. 15,479

5 Claims.

This invention relates to caskets. The object of the invention is to devise a casket construction that is very light and cheap to fabricate, which permits of a metal coating on the outside thereof that is not only ornamental but highly resistant to deterioration when placed in the ground.

Another feature of the invention is the construction of the casket sill which admits of searing the lid to the sill by a composition highly resistant to deterioration.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of a novel method, combination, construction and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is disclosed an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings wherein like reference ch'ar'-.

actors denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

. Figure 1 is a side elevation of the casket with the lid closed showing the outside composition Wood fibre sheet removed.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the casket with the lid removed and having the top sheet of the bottom thereof broken away.

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section through the casket with the lid sealed thereon and looking at one end and showing the inside sheet of the end wall partly broken away.

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the lid of the casket with the inner sheet partly broken away.

Figure 5 is a plan View of the treated wooden frame of the bottom of the casket which is anchored to the inner and outer composition wood fibre sheets.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevation of one end of the treated wooden frame for the lid which is anchored to the inner and outer sheets.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of an end wall of the casket showing the lap along the bottom edge thereof.

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section of the lower end of the side wall showing the lap; and

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary section at the edge of the bottom wall.

Referring to the drawings in detail, AA denotes the side walls, BB indicates the end walls anchored to and rising from the bottom (3 of the casket. The letter D designates the lid of the casket.

'Ihe gist of the present invention is founded "on using wooden skeleton frames in the bottom, side and end walls and the lid, which frames are properly braced and treated with a preservative oil such as oil of tar. The wooden frame work is built up "and glued to the rough side of the outer com-position wood fibre board sheets, preferably that character of ijbre board known to the trade as Masonite; Then when the wooden frame is coupled, preferably by glue to the rough side of the outer fibre a board sheets, the innersheet previously out to the desired shape i'sglued to the wooden frame. sheets to the wooden skeleton frames the entire inside of the wall is coated or Sprayed with a preserving oil such as the oil of tar. When the inner fibre board sheet is glued to the woeden frame it seals the wall and forms a sealed Wall containing a multiplicity of air cells which are in communication with one another by openings in the parts of the wooden frames, as will appear later. As will also appear later, the entire outside of the casket thus constructed is sprayed with a coating of non-corrosive metal such as zinc, aluminum, copper or alloys thereof. The metal coating not only adds beauty to the casket but forms a sealing, film of metal which strengthens the casket and prevents deterioration. The metal coating is blown on the casket after the side and end walls have been assembled with the bottom by an air gun and the metal strikes the outside sheet of the fibre board on the side.

end and bottom walls of the casket in a plastic condition which'will cohere to the outside surface of the sheet and yet it will not burn the fibre boards. The air gun for metalizing the outside of the casket and also the lid. are very well known in the trade. in thermo-plastic condition in highly atomized consistency. Each side wall A of the casket is formed in the same way. The side walls consist of a pair of spaced sheets of wood fibre board such as Masonite l0, H with the rough faces inward. 'These sheets are glued to the opposed faces of the wooden skeleton frame consisting of parallel top and bottom rails I2, l3 secured to the upright end rails 14, I5 at their ends. Between the top and bottom rails of the wood frame is a wooden handle anchoring rail l6 coextensive and parallel to them. The ends of rail [6' are glued to intermediate parts of the end rails M, 15. A pair of center upright bridge pieces H are located in the center of the wood frame and have their Prior to gliiing'the inner These guns apply the pure metal inner ends secured to the center of the anchoring rail I5 and their outer ends are secured to the centers of top and bottom rails l2, l3 respectively. Diagonal wooden bridge pieces 3 are secured at their inner ends on the opposite sides of the anchoring rail I6 and at their outer ends respectively to end rails |4, I5 and the upright bridge piece H as is shown in Figure 1 of the drawings.

Each end wall B is formed in the same manner. The end walls are formed of spaced sheets of wood fibre board I9, 20 and glued to the wooden skeleton frame, exactly in the same manner as the side walls, which frame consists of wooden parts treated with a preservative aforementioned. This skeleton frame consists of upright end rails 2|, 22 to which are secured the ends of parallel top and bottom rails 23, 24. The ends of the central handle anchoring rail 25 are secured to the centers of the end rails. Diagonal bridge pieces 25, a pair on each side of the anchoring rail 25 have their inner ends secured to the center of the anchoring rail and their outer ends secured in the corners where top and bottom rails join the end rails.

The bottom wall B is also formed of spaced fibre board sheets 21, 28 glued to the opposite faces of the wooden parts of the skeleton frame, like in the formation of the side walls which parts are treated with the aforementioned preservative. In the bottom wall C are double end rails 29, 30 and double side rails 3|, 32 all lying in the same plane as will be understood by referring to the skeleton frame in Figure 5 of the drawings. The outer ones of the double end rails have their margins secured abutting the ends of the side rails while the end of the inner one of the double end rails are secured abutting the margins of the inner side rails as will be seen in Figure 5 of the drawings. To provide strength longitudinally of the bottom wall, the frame is built with a central brace 33 parallel to the side rails and the ends of which braces are secured to the centers of the inner walls of the double end rails. Diagonal bridge pieces 34 and central uprights 35 have their inner ends secured to central brace 33 and their outer ends to the inner of the double side and end rails. The double end and side rails are formed by gluing their confronting faces to wood fibre strips 36 and the inner of the double side and end rails lie in a plane within the inside of the casket. Under the inner ones of the double end and side rails nailed or otherwise secured around the margin of the bottom sheet 21 is an additional footing strip 31 and the bottom of this strip is flush with the wooden footing ledge 38 which is covered with strips of fibre board 39. Ledge 38 extends around and is secured to the outer sheets I of the side walls and outer sheet IQ of the end walls, next to the lower rails of the side and end walls and the outer ones of the double end and side rails of the bottom walls thereby forming a strong footing or foundation for the bottom of the casket.

The top rails |2 of the side walls A, and the top rails 23 of the end walls extend above the upper edges of the fibre sheets as will be seen by referring to Figure 3 of the drawings. A wooden sill 4| consisting of side members and end members secured together at their corners has a channel 42 around this sill frame to receive the projecting portions of top rails l2 and top rails 23 and these top rails are glued in the channel. The side and end members of the sill frame 4| are wider than the side and end walls of c casket and project to each side thereof. The channel 42 is in the center of the members of the sill frame. The side and end members of sill frame 4| are substantially rectangular and are covered with strips 43 of fibre board, with the exception of the lip on the sill frame. In the lip of the sill frame is a central channel 44 which receives the tongue extending continuously around the lid as will hereafter appear. The lid D is formed with side rails 45, 46 secured to the end wooden rails 41, 48 secured to each other at the corners to form a rectangular frame that is a companion to the sill frame 44 on the casket. Depending from the lower faces of the side rails and end rails are spaced tongues 49, 50 which extend entirely around the end and side rails to form continuous tongues. The inner of the spaced tongues 50 overlap the inner corner of the sill frame 4| in closed position While the outer of spaced tongues 49 is adapted to be seated in the channel 44 in the sill frame 4|. It will thus be seen that when the lid is assembled on the sill frame 4| of the casket there will be two tongues from the frame of the lid seated on the sill frame 4|. Just prior to placing the lid on the casket the mortician may partly fill the channel 44 in the sill with a sealing composition 5| and when the lid is placed on the sill the composition will spread over the confronting faces of the frame of the lid and the upper face of the sill as will be understood by referring to Figure 3 of the drawings. This sealing composition may be formed of resin oil and marine iron glue.

The lid D is formed in the same manner as the walls of the casket. That is, there are two spaced sheets of fibre board 52, 53 glued or otherwise secured to the wooden skeleton frame consisting of the side rails 45, 46 and the end rail 41, 48. Between the lower sheet 52 and the upper sheet 53 are spaced transversely bowed bridge pieces 54 and longitudinal straight wooden pieces 55,

The ends of the bowed transverse pieces 54 are glued to the upper faces of the side rails 45. The ends of the longitudinal bridge pieces 55 are glued to the confronting bowed cross pieces 54. Short bowed pieces 56 form the end arch of the lid and have their outer ends secured to the upper face of the end rails 41, 4B and their inner ends to the end transversely bowed pieces 54 as will be clearly understood by referring to Figure 6 of the drawings. The inner sheet 52 of the lid has the roughened face inward and to the inner face is glued the transverse arch bridge pieces 54, the longitudinal bridge pieces 55 and the end arch pieces 56 the wooden side and end rails together with the bridge pieces are thoroughly saturated with a wood preservative oil prior to assembly, and when the inner sheet 52 is glued to these pieces the pieces are given another coating after which the top wood fibre sheet 53 is glued to the upper edges of the bridge pieces thereby making a sealed lid consisting of a multiplicity of cells.

It will be understood that the side, end walls and bottom wall are made in separate units of the proper dimensions. To assemble the side and end walls on the bottom wall C the outer sheets ll of the side walls and the outer sheets of the end walls extend below the bottom rail of the side and end walls to form an extension or lap 51 and this extension overlaps the side edges of the side and end rails on the bottom wall as will be clearly understood by referring to Figure 3 of the drawings. This extension 51 is glued to the side edges and also nailed to the side edges of the outer one of the side rails and the outer one of the end rails of the bottom. Then the side footing pieces 38 are attached. The box of the casket is then ready for metalizing. A coating of metal 58 is then sprayed over the entire surface on the outside of the box of the casket and likewise a coating of metal is applied over the entire outside surface of the lid when removed from the box. After the metal has coalesced the box and lid are ready for use.

It will be understood that the end rails, side rails and top and bottom rails of the skeleton wooden frames as well as the bridging pieces making up the side, end and bottom walls of the box of the casket are all of the same thickness and the sheet to which they are attached are the same thickness so as to make all the walls and the bottom of a uniform thickness. Furthermore, it will be noted that in all of the cells of the bottom side and end walls of the box are provided with openings in the wooden pieces making up the cells so that there will be communication between the cells. By providing projecting pegs in the sides of the sill frame 4| extending into the box of the casket, I provide for attaching a shielding board properly upholstered and tufted with silk or other trimmings and the length of this shielding board will adapt the interior of my casket for exposing any desired length of the human body displayed in the casket. The shielding board rests upon these pegs Gil.

The handles of the casket may be anchored by screws or bolts to the anchoring rails 25 and I6.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A casket having the walls, and bottom constructed in units adapted to be permanently joined together to form a box,'each unit comprising a skeleton frame including marginal rails and a network of interior bracing members, wood fibre panels inherently pervious to elements contained in the earth sealed to the opposed sides of the rails and bracing members to provide air spaces between the panels, certain of the interior bracing members formed with air passages forming communication between the air spaces, the marginal rails of the units secured to confronting rails of adjoining units to form a box, and the outer panel wall of the units sealed with a fused metal coating.

2. A casket comprising a box formed with end, side walls, and a bottom; the end and side walls formed of a reinforcing frame including marginal side and end rails secured together; a composition sheet fixed to the opposite faces of the frame to provide spaced panels; the bottom formed of a reinforcing frame including marginal side and end rails; a composition sheet fixed to the opposite faces of the bottom frame having the edges thereof terminatingflush with the outer edges of the side and end rails; and the outer panels on the side and end walls of the box projecting below the bottom rails of the side and end frames respectively and overlapping and anchored to the outer edges of the side and end rails respectively of the bottom.

3. A burial casket including end, side, and bottom closure members, respectively, each comprising a rectangular frame of bar-like water proofed material, a median bar-extending from end to end of the frame, diagonal bars extending from the corners of the frame to said median bar upon opposite sides of the latter, and a pair of water proofed fiber board panels secured to opposite sides of the frame, respectively, and forming together with said frame and bars, a plurality of air chambers sealed from the outside atmosphere, the median bar and diagonal bars being apertured to establish communication between said chambers.

4. A burial casket including end, side, and bottom closure members, respectively, each comprising a rectangular frame of bar-like water proofed material, and a pair of inside and outside water proofed fiber board panels secured to opposite sides of said frame, respectively, to close the same, the side and end members upstanding from the inside panel of the bottom member at the edges thereof and flush with said edges, and the outside panels of the end and side members extending below their respective frames into over lapping engaging relation with the edges of the bottom member.

5. In a burial casket including end and side closure members, respectively, a bottom closure member comprising a pair of inner and outer rectangular frames of bar-like material, the former fitted into the latter, and each including side and end bars, the inner frame comprising a median bar extending between the end bars thereof and diagonal'bars extending from the corners thereof to said median bar upon opposite sides thereof, respectively, a pair of inside and outside water proofed fiber board panels secured to opposite sides of said frames, respectively, to enclose the same and forming together with said frames and bars a plurality of air chambers in said bottom member, the median bar and diagonal bars being apertured to establish communication between said chambers, the side and end bars of each frame being slightly spaced from those of the other frame, and the spaces between said side and end bars having fitted therein filler strips of fiber board water proofed material.

, CHARLES T. SHERMAN. 

